Harry Tracy was one of the most notorious outlaws of the American Old West. He was involved in robberies, murders, and prison escapes that made him a wanted man across several states. His final days were marked by a massive manhunt and a series of shootouts that ended with his suicide. This article will explore the life and death of Harry Tracy, the last desperado of the Old West.
Contents
Early Life and Crimes
Harry Tracy was born as Harry Severns in 1875 in Wisconsin. He ran away from home at a young age and joined a gang of cattle rustlers in Wyoming. He later claimed to have run with Butch Cassidy and the Hole in the Wall Gang, but there is no evidence to support this
In 1898, Tracy and three accomplices engaged in a gunfight with a posse at Brown’s Park, Colorado, in which a deputy sheriff was killed. Tracy and one of his partners, David Lant, were captured and sent to jail in Aspen, Colorado. They escaped after two months and made their way to Washington and Oregon
In 1901, Tracy was arrested for horse theft and sentenced to 20 years in the Oregon State Penitentiary. He was described by the Seattle Daily Times as “one of the most desperate criminals in the country”
The Escape and the Manhunt
On June 9, 1902, Tracy and another convict, David Merrill, staged a daring escape from the prison, killing three guards and wounding another in the process. They also killed three civilians who tried to stop them. They stole horses and guns and headed for the countryside
For the next month, Tracy and Merrill eluded capture by hiding in the woods, stealing food and supplies, and taking hostages. They also killed several law enforcement officers who pursued them, including a detective and a deputy in Bothell, Washington.
On June 28, 1902, Tracy and Merrill had an argument that resulted in a duel. Tracy cheated and shot Merrill dead. He then continued his flight alone, crossing the Cascade Mountains and heading east. He was spotted near Wenatchee, Coulee City, and Creston, where he took refuge in a ranch owned by two brothers.
The Final Shootout and Suicide
On August 6, 1902, a posse from Lincoln County, led by Sheriff Gardner, tracked down Tracy to the ranch where he was staying. They approached the barn where Tracy was hiding and ordered him to surrender. Tracy refused and opened fire, wounding two of the possemen. He then ran towards a wheat field, but was shot twice in the leg by the sheriff.
Tracy crawled into the field and hid behind some rocks. He was surrounded by the posse, who waited for him to bleed out or give up. Tracy, however, had vowed to never be taken alive. He took out his revolver and shot himself in the head, ending his life and his reign of terror.
Conclusion
Harry Tracy was one of the last outlaws of the Old West, who defied the law and the odds for years. He was a cold-blooded killer, a cunning fugitive, and a master of firearms. He was also a tragic figure, who lived a life of violence and loneliness, and died by his own hand. His cause of death was suicide, but his legacy was legend.
